Unwinding device for spools.



J. L. WALSH.

UNWINDING DEVICE FOR SPUOLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 191s.'

1,132,050. Patented Mar. I6, 1915.

JOHN L. WALSH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR,

MENTS, OF ILLINOIS.

BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- TO IDEAL MACHINERY COMPANY, OE CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION UNWINDING- DEVICE FOR SPOOLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar.. 16, 1915...

Application filed May 13, 1913. Serial No. 767,420.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN L. WALsH, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Unwinding Devices forSpools, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, andexact description.

This invention relates to unwinding devices for spools, bobbins and thelike, and its main object is to provide an unwinding device of simpleand improved construction, capable of use in connection with small andlarge spools of thread within certain limits.

Much difficulty is encountered in using a full spool of silk or otherthread, upon a sewing machine, because of the tendency for the silk orthread to unwind too rapidly and become tangled around the spool orspindle upon which it is j ournaled, and the present invention designsto overcome this objectionable feature.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction andarrangement hereinafter fully set forth and particularly defined in theclaims.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing furnished herewith, ofwhich` Figure 1, is a side elevation of an unwinding device for spools,embodying the preferred form of the present invention, and showing aspool of thread in dotted lines, supported thereon with the threadthreaded through the thread guiding devices; Fig. 2, is a central,vertical section of the unwinding device seen in Fig. 1, but showing thesame applied to a much smaller spool; Fig. 3, is a detail, verticalcross section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, is a detailvertical cross section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5, is aperspective view of a certain thread guiding device forming a part ofthe invention, and Fig. 6, is a detail view partly in plan and partly inhorizontal section, showing certain adjustable supporting bars.

Referring to said drawing, 10, designates a spool support here shown ashaving a sleeve 11, arranged to be slipped upon the spool spindle of asewing machine and provided with a thumb screw 12, for securelyfastening the device upon said spindle. Said sleeve supports a flatspool supporting disk 13, and a check ring 14, parallel with said disk,and arranged to surround the free end of a spool of thread supportedby'said spool support said disk and check ring may be adjusted toward oraway from each other to accommodate dierent sizes of spools, and toprovide adjustable connecting means between the disk and check ring, thedisk 13, has a flat bar 15, secured to its lower edge, which is slidablymounted on a bar 16, secured to the sleeve 1l, and to the check ring 14,and having flanges 17, which overlie the bar 15 and slidably connect thetwo parts together'. The disk 13, is notched adjacent its bar 15, topermit the flanges of the bar 16, to pass by the same. Preferably thebar 15, is slit at its forward end to provide a tongue 18, which is bentdownward slightly to frictionally engage with the upper face of the bar16, and thereby prevent relative movement between the disk 13, and checkring 14, except when sufficient force is applied thereto to adjust themwith respect to each other.

Centrally disposed with respect to the spool supporting disk 13, andprojecting toward the check ring 14, is a tubular spindle 19, which isof sufficient length to extend through a spool A, of considerablelength, and said spindle 19, is increased in diameter at its base and isof tapered formation as seen at 20, its largest diameter being locatedat the disk 13, and said tapered portion of the spindle 19, is adaptedto be wedged into one end of the hole of a spool whereby the latter maybe non-rotatively secured to the disk 13.

Slidably mounted upon the free end of the tubular spindle 19, is athread guiding device 21, which, in the present form, comprises acircular disk 22, of greater diameter than the diameter spool that maybe used in connection with the device. The disk 22, if desired, may bedished to provide a circumferential flange 25, which overhangs andsurrounds the adjacent flange of the spool. This overhanging flangeprevents the thread from traveling around the wooden flange of thespool, thereby eliminating any danger of the thread being caught uponsaid wooden flange. Secured to said disk 22, at its center is a tubularmember 23, which projects on each side of said disk and is provided onthe side facing the spool, with longitudinal slits 24, which formtongues 26, that may be bent of the flanges of any4 vso a trifle towardthe center of the tubular member to provide friction against the tubu-Vlar spindle 19, and thereby hold said disk non-rotatively thereon andagainst relative longitudinal movement, except when sufricient force isapplied to move the same against suchfrictional engagement. The internaldiameter of the tubular member 23, is substantially the same as theexternal diameter of the tubular spindle 19, and fits fairly tightthereon. lIhat part of the tubular member which projects beyond theouter face of the disk 22, acts as a guide for the thread and directssaid thread from the marginal edge of the disk (over which it travels)to and through the spool.

In use, the device is secured on a sewing machine spindle and the threadguiding device 21, is first removed from the tubular spindle 19, afterwhich a spool of thread is slipped over the tubular spindle 19, andforced upon the tapered end 20, thereof. The check ring 14, is thenadjusted to bring it near the free end of the spool, (the thread at thistime extending through the ring) after which the thread guiding device21, is slipped upon the end of the tubular spindle 19, bringing the flatface of the disk into contact with the end of the spool. The end of thethread a, is brought around the peripheral edge of the disk 22, andthreaded through the tubular member 23, and tubular spindle 19, thuspassing through the center of the spool; it is then threaded through thetension devices of the sewing machine to the needle. To obtain moretension upon the thread, the check ring 14:, is moved closer to the disk22, but in some cases said check ring may be moved away therefrom or itmay be dispensed with entirely with certain kinds of thread.

In Fig. 1, a large spool A, is shown and the thread c, is illustrated asleading from said spool through the check ring and over the disk 22,thence to the end of the tubular member 23, and through the same andtubular spindle 19.

In Fig. 2, a small sized and in this case the check ring and disk havebeen moved closer to the supporting disk 13, so as to accommodate thesmall sized spool. In this case, also, the thread al, is shown as spoolA1, is shown assing through the check ring 14, over the disk 22, andthrough the tubular member 23, and tubular spindle 19. In unwinding, thethread passes from the spool and travels around the smooth circularperiphery of the disk 22, without becoming unwound too freely andtangled.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the unwindingdevice for spools shown and described in my prior application, filed inthe Patent Office the 21st day of December, 1912, Serial No. 737948.

In the present construction, the tubular spindle 19, furnishes means forsecuring the thread guiding device 21, to the spool support, whereas inthe device illustrated in my prior application, the thread guidingdevice depended upon the spool for its support.

The tubular spindle 19, has two principal functions to perform, namely,it assists in supportinc the spool and supports the thread guidingdevice` 21. Furthermore, it furnishes means whereby the thread guidingdevice may be adjustably supported with respect to the spool, and thefriction element of the thread guiding device enables the latter to beheld in any of its positions of adjustment on the spindle. The result isthat the spool may be held either in a rotative or non-rotativecondition on its support, as is found necessary, depending upon thewinding of the spool, the action of the sewing machine and many othercontingencies that may arise. Consequently, with the use of this device,a simple spiral unwinding of the thread on a stationary spool, may beeffected, or a spiral unwinding on a rotating spool may be had, as isnecessary, or brought about by the action of the machine. For instance,by moving the disk away from the spool far enough to release the latterfrom its fixed position, the spool is then free to turn when the threadis drawn with force or with great speed, thereby permitting the threadto unwind therefrom in a free and even manner, and when the pullingstrain on the thread is lessened, the spool ceases to turn and thethread unwinds therefrom in a spiral fashion, with the same ease andfreedom as before, so that irrespective of the tension on the thread orits speed of movement, the unwinding action remains practicallyconstant.

The results obtained are, even stitches, a continuous thread (the dangerof breakage being practically eliminated) and the saving of time andlabor. The necessity for this adjustment of the thread guiding devicebevice becomes more apparent when the bulk of the thread has beenunwound, and at such times it may be found, as a general rule, that thespool must be released from its xed position to obtain the regular, evenstitches necessary in perfect work. guiding end of the tubular member23, and circular edge of the disk 22, form narrow track ways over whichthe thread passes from the outside of the spool to and through itscentral hole, and the thread is thereby kept from running on any widesurfaces. The end of the tubular member 23, is in fixed position withrespect to the marginal edge of the disk, so that regardless of thelength of the spool, the thread passes from the edge of the disk to theinterior of the spool at a constant angle and with unvarying bends whereit passes over those parts, consequently the tension remainsapproximately even and constant. Furthermore, the tubu- The open threadlar spindle 19, provides a smooth channel through which the thread maybe easily threaded through the center of the spool. When it is foundthat the thread is wound too tight on the spool, or when the greaterpart of the thread has been unwound from the spool, the thread guidingdevice may be moved outward on the tubular spindle, thereby releasingthe spool from the tapered end of spindle and permitting the spool toturn on the spindle, to permit free and easy unwinding of the thread.The overhanging fia-nge of the thread guiding device is important, sinceit prevents the thread from striking the wooden flange of the spool inbeing unwound therefrom.

It is to be understood that the proportions of the device may be variedto suit different requirements and that other alterations andmodifications are possible without departing from the spirit of thisinvention; I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the exactdetails of construction shown and described, except as may benecessitated by the prior state of the art.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A spool unwinding device, comprising in combination a spool holderhaving a tubular spindle having a continuous straight passagetherethrough from end to end, and adapted to extend through the hole ofa spool from end to end, and a thread guiding device located at the freeend of the spindle and having a smooth edged circular disk, around whichthe thread may pass from the outside of the spool, and a tubularcentrally disposed thread guiding member, through which the thread maypass from the disk, said thread guiding member projecting from at leastone side of said disk, and its outer end being in fixed relation to theedge of the disk, said edge and the end of said tubular member formingnarrow, annular trackways for guiding the thread from the outside of thespool to and through its central hole, and frictional connecting meansbetween the tubular spindle and thread guiding devices, whereby thelatter may be forced down against the end of the spool to hold itstationary, or may be held away from the spool to permit turningthereof. p

2. A spool unwinding device, comprising in combination a spool holderhaving a supporting disk and a tubular thread guiding spindle having acontinuous straight passage therethrough from end to end, and adapted toextend through the hole of a spool from end to end, and a thread guidingdevice having a smooth edged circular disk around which the thread maypass from the outside of the spool, said disk being provided with atubular, centrally disposed thread guiding stem, projecting from bothsides of the disk and through which the thread may pass from the edge ofthe disk, said edge of the disk and outer end of the tubular stemforming narrow trackways over which the thread may pass from the outsideof the spool to the central hole thereof, said stem being arranged tosurround said tubular spindle and having slitted portions arranged tofrictionally engage the spindles, whereby the disk may be moved towardor away from the spool; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A spool unwinding device, comprising a spool-holder provided with atubular spindle having a continuous straight passage therethrough fromend to end, and adapted to extend through the hole of a spool, and athread guiding device located at and movably secured to move lengthwiseon one end of the spindle, and having a smooth edged circular diskaround which the thread may pass from the outside of the spool andhaving a tubular, centrally disposed, threadguiding member, throughwhich the thread may pass from the disk, said thread guiding member ofthe thread-guiding device, projecting outward from one side of the disk,said edge of the disk and the outer end of the tubular thread-guidingmember forming narrow, annular trackways for guiding the thread from theoutside of the spool, to and through its central holes.

4. In a spool unwinding device, a circular spool supporting disk and acheck ring adjustably secured together, a centrally disposed tubularspindle secured to and projecting from said circular spool supportingdisk toward said check ring, and a circular thread guiding device beyondsaid check ring, and having a centrally disposed tubular membersurrounding and secured upon said tubular spindle.

5. In a spool unwinding device, a circular spool supporting disk and acheck ring adjustably` connected together, a centrally disposed, tubularspindle projecting from said spool supporting disk toward said checkring, and a thread guiding device having a circular smooth edged disk,and a centrally disposed tubular member projecting from both sides ofsaid disk, said tubular member being arranged to surround andfrictionally engage said tubular spindle and forming together, with saidtubular spindle, a smooth, continuous passage for the thread of a spool,supported upon said spool supporting member.

JOHN L. WALSH.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. CONLEY, CHARLES O. SHERVEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G."

